Eggshell opener

ABSTRACT

A sanitary eggshell opener includes a circular skirt dependent from a fixed frame and a traveling ram biased toward said skirt. The motion of the ram is limited by guide means to movement along a line which is perpendicular to the center of the plane of the mouth of the dependent skirt which is adapted to be received over an end of an egg.

United States Patent 91 Strang [11] 3,72L18fi l lMarch 20, 1973 [54] EGGSHELL OPENER 211 Appl. No.: 107,277

3,090,413 5/1963 Rossi ..146/2 B 3,605,833 9/1971 Strang ..l46/2 E Primary Examiner-Willie G. Abercrombie Att0meyGreist, Lockwood, Greenawalt & Dewey ABSTRACT A sanitary eggshell opener includes a circular skirt dependent from a fixed frame and a traveling ram biased toward said skirt. The motion of the ram is limited by guide means to movement along a line which is perpendicular to the center of the plane of the mouth of the dependent skirt which is adapted to be received over an end of an egg.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures [52] US. Cl w/571 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47j 43/14 [58] Field of Search ..l46/2 B, 2 E

[56] References Cited' UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,533,007 12/1950 Haegele ..'...l46/2 B l8 TL 5' r t u a INVENTOR HERMAN D. STRANG .z 6'. M W M/0M ATT'YS.

EGGSIIELL OPENER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Numerous devices for opening an eggshell have been proposed. Such devices are particularly useful for removing an end portion of an eggshell to facilitate consumption of the soft-boiled contents of the egg, e.g., a chicken egg, with a spoon.

Many of the devices heretofore suggested included circular cutters which revolve around an end portion of the eggshell, literally sawing a circular cut through the shell. Some of the devices involved a moving circular blade which struck an end portion of the eggshell. Some devices involved spring-loaded hammer arrangements. One of the major difficulties involved in devices utilizing a moving circular blade, as well as devices involving a spring-loaded hammer is the likelihood that the break of the eggshell would not be even, i.e., extend completely around the shell. Even though the levered movement of some hammer-type designs functioned better than others, this tendency to malfunction would result from an uneven application of force which we now believe to be due to the arcing path of some elements.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple, easily manufactured, economically sold eggshell cutter for removing an end portion of an egg. It is a further object of this invention to provide an eggshell opener which is conveniently dismantled for a thorough cleaning, and yet is of such a design that dismantling is not essential for ordinary cleanliness. It is an important object of this invention to provide an eggshell opener which, with an unusually high degree of reliability, imparts a uniform cut around the entire circumference of the end of an egg.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus of this invention includes a circular dependent skirt fixed to an elongated frame member, and a traveling ram biased in the direction of the skirt. The ram is maintained during movement along a straight line which is perpendicular to the center of the circular skirt opening.

DESIGNATION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective elevational view showing the improved egg-opener of this invention, showing an egg with an end portion removed therefrom by the eggopener.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional elevational view of the egg-opener illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the egg-opener of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the eggopener of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As used herein, and in the appended claims, the terms upper, lower, vertical, frontward, backward, lateral, horizontal, and the like, are for the purpose of defining relative positions and spacial relationships between members or elements. It is not to be inferred that the opener is necessarily fixed in space. The

described orientation of the opener was chosen because of the fact that the device is normally used by placing the opener over an end of an egg as shown in FIG. 3 so that the skirt 20 extends downwardly and the elongated frame generally 12 extends upwardly. All descriptive orientation terms were chosen on that basis and hence these terms are believed useful in that they define relative positioning and orientation of elements with respect to each other. Also, the numbers used to identify elements of the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 4 are all primed numbers, and are the same numbers as corresponding elements shown in the preferred embodiment illustration.

In accordance with this invention eggshell openers generally 10, include an elongated frame member 12, having an upper end 14, and a lower end 16, and side walls 18. Frame 12 is preferably manufactured by bending coldrolled round edge flat wire to the illustrated shape. Circular dependent skirt 20 depends from lower end 16. Dependent skirt 20 is shaped so that lower edge 22 is in a plane and in the orientation of the description the plane may be considered to be horizontal. The broken line C shown in the view of FIG. 2 represents a vertical line which passes perpendicularly through the center of the plane of the mouth formed by circular edge 22 of skirt 20. As shown in FIG. 1, skirt 20 is generally circular and is of suitable size and shape to receive an end portion of an egg 24. Thus lower edge 22 engages the external surface of an eggshell of egg 24 as indicated in FIG. 3. Dependent skirt 20 is preferably a die drawn cup produced from a unitary flat steel piece in which edge 22 is pinch trimmed at the downward extreme of movement of the die apparatus.

In the illustrated embodiment dependent skirt 20 is welded at spot welds 26, 26 to lower end 16 of frame 12. Thus frame 12 and dependent skirt 20 are fixed with respect to one another, and these elements will be referred to herein as the fixed members."

The egg opener of this invention includes a downwardly biased traveling ram generally 30 which includes guide plate 32, elongated shaft 34, and weighted knob 36. Guide plate 32 includes ears 38 positioned along the front and back of laterally disposed frame elements 18, 18. Shaft 34 includes a threaded end portion 40 which is threaded into a threaded hole 42 in the center of guide plate 32 to bring shoulders 44 tightly against the upper surface of guide plate 32. Shaft 32 extends upwardly through an opening 50 and is fixed to knob 36. This connection is preferably a permanent press fit.

Coil spring 52, is positioned between upper face 46 of guide plate 32 and frame upper end 14.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dimensioning of shaft 34 is long enough to permit threaded end 40 of shaft 34 to strike lower end 16 of frame 12. In this embodiment knob 36 can not strike upper end 14. In an alternative embodiment, however, as shown in FIG. 4, shaft 34' is relatively short, so that end 40' cannot strike lower end 16 of frame 12'. In this embodiment knob 36' strikes end 14' of frame 12'.

It is particularly important that the cooperating elements of the article of this invention be arranged to provide movement of traveling ram 30 in the direction along line C (see FIG. 2) which is perpendicular to the center of the mouth defined by edge 22. This assures delivery of a properly directed, and evenly distributed, blow for uniformly, evenly, and completely breaking the shell of egg 24 along the entire portion thereof which is opposed to edge 22 of dependent skirt 20. This also eliminates the tendency of the cup to rotate in the direction opposite to an arcing motion of a hammer.

It will be appreciated from a consideration of the attached drawings that the article of this invention is readily maintained in a clean and sanitary condition inasmuch as all elements are relatively available to the action of a soap and water solution. Also, all portions are readily inspected. Should the user desire to dismantle the article for special cleaning, it will be appreciated that knob 36, which is fixed to shaft 34 can be rotated to remove screw shaft 34, from guide plate 32 and permit withdrawal of shaft 34 through opening 50. Spring 52 and guide plate 32 are readily removed from between side walls 18, 18. Re-assembly is likewise extremely simple inasmuch as guide plate is first positioned between side walls 18, 18 as shown in FIG. 5. Spring 52 is approximately positioned between side walls 18, 18, shaft 34 is reinserted through opening 50 and inserted through coil spring 52 and threaded into threaded opening 42 of guide plate 32. Another advantage which is inherent in the novel design of this invention is that the article is relatively rugged, and it is relatively immune to damage from the kinds of forces normally encountered in a kitchen.

I claim:

1. An eggshell opener comprising an elongated open frame having an upper and a lower end;

a circular skirt dependent from said lower end, said skirt being fixed with respect to said frame, said frame and said skirt being referred to hereinafter as fixed members, said skirt being circular and having a downwardly opening circular mouth opening in a horizontal plane, said mouth being adapted to engage an end portion of an egg;

traveling, downwardly biased spring-loaded ram means for delivering a spring-biased, downward blow to one of said fixed members; and

guide means for limiting movement of said traveling ram means along a straight line which is perpendicular to the plane of said mouth, said line being through the center of said circular mouth, said guide means comprising cooperating elements on said frame and ram means.

2. An eggshell opener comprising a vertically extending elongated frame which is open frontwardly and rearwardly, and has parallel spaced apart side walls, and an upper end and a lower end; a circular skirt dependent from said lower end, said circular skirt having a circular mouth ending in a horizontal plane, said skirt being adapted to receive a portion of an end of an egg, said mouth being adapted to bear against the shell of an egg, said dependent skirt being fixed with respect to said lower end, said frame and said skirt being referred to hereinafter as fixed elements;

a traveler comprising a guide plate, an elongated shaft, and a weighted knob, said guide plate being adapted to slidingly engage said side walls, and including detent means for maintaining said guide plate between said side walls, said elongated shaft being secured perpendicularly to said end plate,

extending upwardly between said side walls, and freely through sal upper end to provide an extending end portion thereof above said end portion, said knob being secured to said extending portion; biasing means for biasing said traveler in a straight line in a downwardly direction.

3. The eggshell opener of claim 2 wherein said biasing means is a helical coil spring positioned between said guide plate and said upper end.

4. The eggshell opener of claim 2 wherein said elongated shaft is releasably secured to said guide plate.

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1. An eggshell opener comprising an elongated open frame having an upper and a lower end; a circular skirt dependent from said lower end, said skirt being fixed with respect to said frame, said frame and said skirt being referred to hereinafter as fixed members, said skirt being circular and having a downwardly opening circular mouth opening in a horizontal plane, said mouth being adapted to engage an end portion of an egg; traveling, downwardly biased spring-loaded ram means for delivering a spring-biased, downward blow to one of said fixed members; and guide means for limiting movement of said traveling ram means along a straight line which is perpendicular to the plane of said mouth, said line being through the center of said circular mouth, said guide means comprising cooperating elements on said frame and ram means.
 2. An eggshell opener comprising a vertically extending elongated frame which is open frontwardly and rearwardly, and has parallel spaced apart side walls, and an upper end and a lower end; a circular skirt dependent from said lower end, said circular skirt having a circular mouth ending in a horizontal plane, said skirt being adapted to receive a portion of an end of an egg, said mouth being adapted to bear against the shell of an egg, said dependent skirt being fixed with respect to said lower end, said frame and said skirt being referred to hereinafter as fixed elements; a traveler comprising a guide plate, an elongated shaft, and a weighted knob, said guide plate being adapted to slidingly engage said side walls, and including detent means for maintaining said guide plate between said side walls, said elongated shaft being secured perpendicularly to said end plate, extending upwardly between said side walls, and freely through said upper end to provide an extending end portion thereof above said end portion, said knob being secured to said extending portion; biasing means for biasing said traveler in a straight line in a downwardly direction.
 3. The eggshell opener of claim 2 wherein said biasing means is a helical coil spring positioned between said guide plate and said upper end.
 4. The eggshell opener of claim 2 wherein said elongated shaft is releasably secured to said guide plate. 